The Highland Council is ready for winter and prepared to grit council roads as the council's winter maintenance programme started on 14 October 2018. Trunk roads in Highland are the responsibility of Transport Scotland and their operators Bear Scotland.
Transformational change in health and social care is not being achieved in part due to the leadership in the organisations set up to deliver integration not exercising the powers given to them according to a report by the Health and Sport Committee. There are 31 integration authorities across Scotland, bringing together NHS and local council social care services.
Patients of Riverview Practice in Wick are among the first in NHS Highland to be offered GP appointments by video. The new ‘GP Near Me' service is being tested this week as an extension to NHS Highland’s NHS Near Me video consulting service.
NHS Highland has appointed a new district manager for Caithness with a proven track record of success in business and healthcare. Lesley Kinloch has joined the health board following a varied career in international learning and technology before qualifying as an allied health professional (AHP).
Scotland will benefit from nearly £1 billion in additional funding for the Scottish Government, as well as £150 million for a Tay Cities Deal and a freeze in Spirits Duty, the Chancellor has announced in the Budget today. This year's Budget is a result of the UK government's balanced approach to the country's finances, keeping taxes low and debt falling while increasing the Scottish Government’s spending power.
Finance Secretary responds to UK Government Budget. The UK Government's budget has failed to deliver an end to austerity according to Finance Secretary Derek Mackay.
Remember that often the Chancellor is referring to England and Scotland will get some increases under the Barnett Formula for the Scottish Government to decide on spending. Scotland will gain almost one billion pounds in Barnett consequentials and the Scottish Government can decide how to use it.
Commenting on today's (Monday 29 October 2018) Budget Statement, which set out the government's spending plans up to 2024, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said. "Working people cannot be fobbed off again with promises of a better tomorrow that never comes.
Universal credit is suddenly grabbing all the headlines. John Major has warned that it could represent a poll tax moment for the government.
On 5 October 2018, the Institute for Fiscal Studies released a report looking at how different post-Brexit trade arrangements might impact and different UK industries, regions and workers. Peter Levell, Senior Research Economist at IFS, gave the first presentation on "UK's participation in global value chains: implications for post-Brexit trade policy".
On 5 October 2018, the Institute for Fiscal Studies released a report looking at how different post-Brexit trade arrangements might impact and different UK industries, regions and workers. Professor L.
The reduction in Scotland's drink-driving limit has had little effect on the level of deaths and accidents on the nation's roads, according to a University of Strathclyde study. Researchers found that the lower limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) had not been followed by a statistically significant overall drop in road fatalities, including during the peak accident periods of night-time and weekends.
For much more see the IFS we site at www.ifs.org.uk/.
Budget Day Monday 29th October 2018. There is much speculation as always about the coming budget.
1. The Office for National Statistics and HM Treasury published their Statistical Bulletin on the September 2018 Public Sector Finances this morning, covering the first half of the 2018-19 fiscal year.
The UK Government must deliver on its pledge to end austerity in its budget, according to Finance Secretary Derek Mackay. Speaking ahead of the UK Government's budget, Mr Mackay has called for a 'meaningful uplift' in public services funding, as well as expressing concerns about the direction of Brexit negotiations and the roll-out of Universal Credit.
Survey illustrates robust trading performance, but manufacturing confidence and overall investment fall amid rising material costs and uncertain political environment The survey, produced by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde Business School's Fraser of Allander Institute, illustrates a broadly positive Scottish economy, but slowing investment across a range of sectors, and a challenging set of results for the manufacturing sector, suggest that the need for certainty on the UK's Exit for the European Union is paramount. Driven by rising costs of raw materials, the manufacturing sector has posted its first negative result for optimism / business confidence since 2016, despite a reasonably strong set of financial results.
Weeks commencing 15th & 22nd October. Energy & Business Services: Cavendish Dounreay Partnership, the Parent Body Organisation at Dounreay, made a significant announcement last week on opportunities for its workforce .(https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dounreay-management-makes-long-term-employment-commitment-to-workforce), which included a commitment to "develop training and support programmes to put individuals in the strongest possible position to move into another local job with one of the growing industries such as space or renewable energy.
An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland Scotland's council tax base increased to 1.988 million Band D equivalents in September 2018. This figure, calculated after taking account of Council Tax Reduction is 1.1 per cent higher than for 2017, Both years are calculated using the new multipliers in Bands E to H, which took effect from April 2017.
Scotland's economy has continued to strengthen in the first half of 2018 with annual GDP growth the strongest since 2014 and above the UK as a whole. Independent growth forecasts suggest growth could strengthen further over the next couple of years, however, uncertainty relating to the form and timing of agreement for leaving the EU remains a key concern for many sectors of the economy.
